01
Linlithgow Palace
The palace was gutted by fire in 1746 after being occupied by government troops—a reminder that the rising left damage far beyond its battlefields.
A story-led road trip
Edinburgh to Inverness: the road the Jacobites took
Turn the A9 north into a journey through the Jacobite story, from royal palaces and government strongholds to the place the rising finally ended.
6historic stops
155–160approx. miles
2–3stops for one day
Why this journey matters
Jacobites & Bonnie Prince Charlie
The road from Edinburgh to Inverness is usually treated as a three-hour transit. It also passes a remarkable sequence of places connected to the Jacobite risings: the conflict's damage at Linlithgow, the government fortress at Stirling, an earlier victory at Killiecrankie, a divided family at Blair Castle, the final dispersal at Ruthven and defeat at Culloden.
This is a menu, not a checklist. Six proper visits would make a comfortable two-day journey. For one day, choose two or three places that matter most to you and leave enough time for Culloden rather than arriving at the end in a rush.
South to north
The places along the road
Each stop moves the journey north without sending you back over ground you have already covered.
02
Stirling Castle
The great government-held fortress commanding the road north. Jacobite forces took the town but never captured the castle.
03
Killiecrankie
A Jacobite victory from 1689, included to show that this story began decades before Bonnie Prince Charlie and the rising of 1745.
04
Blair Castle
Besieged by Jacobite commander Lord George Murray while his own brother held it for the government—the conflict compressed into one divided family.
05
Ruthven Barracks
Culloden's survivors gathered here expecting to fight on, only to receive the order to disperse. In human terms, this is where the campaign ended.
06
Culloden Battlefield
The final battle of the 1745 Rising and a burial ground. Give the visitor centre and moor the time—and respect—they deserve.
Before setting out
Plan the practical parts
- Blair Castle is seasonal; check its current opening dates before making it one of your essential stops.
- Stirling Castle and Linlithgow Palace can be busy in summer, so advance booking is sensible.
- The outdoor site at Ruthven is unstaffed and has limited facilities.
- Winter conditions can affect the A9 through the Cairngorms. Check Traffic Scotland before setting out.
Useful answers
Questions about this journey
Do I need to visit all six stops?
No. Three substantial stops make a full single day; all six are better spread across two days.
Is this Bonnie Prince Charlie's exact marching route?
No. It follows the modern road north and the strongest Jacobite places directly on it, rather than recreating the campaign's full and much wider geography.
What if I only have time for one stop?
Culloden is the clearest single choice, but allow around two hours for the exhibition and battlefield rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
Make it yours
Build your own version of the road north.
Tell us where you are starting, where you need to finish and how much history will comfortably fit into your day.
Build my Jacobite journey →